About
Spanish Renaissance composer and guitarist who was hired by the royal family of Spain and is regarded as one of the first major Iberian keyboard composers. He was employed by Isabella of Portugal, Queen of Spain and Germany, in 1526. Few of his works were published during his lifetime, most of them being compiled and published posthumously by his son Hernando in 1578.
Before Fame
He became blind in early childhood and learned to play the organ at the Palencia Cathedral.
Trivia
Most of his works are for organ or other keyboard instruments and chamber ensemble music. Of his vocal works, only a single piece survives, Invocación a la letanía, in the Cancionero de la Casa de Medinaceli.
Family Life
Cabezón was born in Castrillo Mota de Judíos, a municipality in the north of Spain. He and his wife, Luisa Nuñez de Mocos, had five children.
Associated With
He was Philip II of Spain's childhood music teacher.
